Wire rope fitting



Sept. 26, 1939. w. A. MEIGHAN WIRE ROPE FITTING Filed Aug. 5, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Sept. 26, 1939'.

w. A. MEIGHAN 2,174,192

.WIRE ROPE FITTING Filed Aug. 5, 1937 2 Shets-Sheet 2 Patented Sept. 26, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 4 Claims.

The principal object of my invention is to provide a coupling or a so-called binding grapple with a hook, bail or eye which may be bound to the end of a flexible rod or strand in such a manner that the binding is arranged to be secured more tightly the stronger the pull. I

In attaining said object, I provide a coupling having a body defining a series of circumferential grooves intersecting each other, and provide an internal passageway communicating with said grooves so that the flexible element can be looped about said body and bound thereto in a coiled section comprising a series of courses following and seated in said groove, said courses overlying and snubbing one another when said element is subject to tension. In securing said flexible rod or strand to said coupling, it is unnecessary to provide auxiliary securing devices such as spliced eyes, tools, knobs, bolts and the like except as it is desirable to secure the extreme end of the flexible element in the body so that said element will not creep and the overlapping coiled portions will continue to grip and snub each other in exactly the same place.

2 The details of several embodiments of my invention are hereinafter described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. l is a schematic or diagrammatic View of the end of a rope or cable tied to form a knot en- 30 gaging the coupling with which my invention is concerned;

Fig. 2 is an elevation of a coupling embodying my invention in which one portion is shown broken away to disclose how a fastening device 3 can be arranged to secure the extreme end of said rope or cable, the coupling shown in Fig. 2 being arranged to correspond exactly in position with the cable shown in Fig. 1 as the parts are arranged when said cable is secured to the said 40 coupling;

Fig. 3 is an elevation of said coupling taken in the direction of the arrow 3 in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is an elevation of said coupling taken in the direction of the arrow 4 in Fig. 3, portions of said coupling also being shown broken away to show the manner in which the fastening device is secured in place;

Fig. 5 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 55 in Fig. 4;

50 Fig. 6 is an elevation of a modification of my invention in which a hooked end is provided for engaging the intermediate portions of the rope or cable instead of an interior passageway as shown in the previous embodiment;

Fig. 7 is a still further modification of my invention in which said coupling terminates in a hooked portion rather than in an eye portion as shown in the first embodiment of my invention, the figure also shows a rope or cable looped about said coupling and a fastening device arranged r therein, portions of said body in said figure being shown broken away to disclose said minor details;

Fig. 8 is a still further modification of my invention in which a coupling is arranged to engage the looped end of a cable, portions being ar- 10 ranged to accommodate the doubled looped portion to form a fixed loop or noose in the end of said cable;

Fig. 9 is a still further modification of my invention with portions shown broken away to 15 show details of an open end coupling; and I Fig. 10 is an elevation of a still further modification of my invention with portions of the body shown broken away. The modification shown in this figure is a double ended coupling adapted to secure the ends of tworopes rather than one and an aperture is arranged in said double ended coupling by which a third rope or other device can be secured to said coupling.

My invention has particular application to rigging such as in the logging industry, in industries involving the transmission of power, or the conveying of devices, or machinery using a flexible strand or rod. In said industries, particularly the logging industry, in construction work, the oil drilling industry and power transmission work, it is frequently necessary to secure the end of a cable to a coupling and there must be definite assurance that said connection is securely made. It is frequently difiicult to provide wrenches and other tools for making said connection or to provide tools for splicing an eye or fastening a ferrule or other knob-like terminal to said line by solder, babbitt metal, bolts, screws or other fastening devices. The several modifications of a coupling embodying my invention may be secured to the end of a cable by the formation of a knotted tie, although I deem it desirable to secure the extreme end of said cable in place in said coupling by means of a stud, screw, wire or similar device which can be easily and quickly seated.

The coupling embodying my invention and disclosed in Figs. 2 to 4, inclusive, comprises an elongated body at having an axial passageway b opening to one end a of said body. Said passageway extends toward the other end of said body which terminates in an eye which adapts said coupling to be secured to some other object.

A peripheral groove d communicates with the axial passageway b, and the first section at thereof forms a circular course extending peripherally of the body. Said first section or course is spaced from the inner end of the axial passageway by the second section or course (12 which in extending peripherally about said body is inclined downwardly and intersects the first section substantially at right angles. The first section extends at an acute angle to the axis of the passageway b and thus the rope e, in forming its first course 6' of its loosely formed knot, is inclined sharply to the left as viewed in Fig. 1 and is snubbed over an outstanding projecting portion f of said body.

The second course e2 of said loosely formed knot lies in the second section d2 of the groove and in passing about said body intersects the portion of the rope leaving the inner end of the passageway so as to underlie and be snubbed by contact with the said section. The remainder of said rope, constituting the extreme end 63 thereof, passes along said section d2 and is turned sharply upwardly and is inserted in a curved fastening passageway g which extends inwardly of said body and into the eye of said body. Extending thru the wall of said body and into said passageway is a tapped hole It adapted to receive and hold a fastening stud or set screw 2'. The inner end of said stud or screw can bear tightly against the end of the rope or cable to prevent the latter from creeping in said passageway and to prevent the courses forming said loose knot correspondingly from releasing the engagement with said coupling.

In Fig. 6 I illustrate how the axial passageway b can be eliminated and a hooked portion 7' provided so that a rope can be slid under said hooked portion past the overlying lip 7" thereof to aid in the making of the knot in said rope. Ease in making said knot is desirable and said hooked portion facilitates the making of said knot. On the other hand, the opened portion 9'2 might permit said rope to be released in severe operating conditions to permit said rope to be disengaged from the coupling.

In Fig. '7 I illustrate how a coupling embodying my invention can be provided with a hooked end 7c instead of a closed eye. In other respects, however, said coupling is identical with the embodiment shown in Figs. 2 to 4, inclusive.

In Fig. 8 I illustrate how a body I can be provided for accommodating a looped and doubled end m of a rope m. To accommodate said end, it is necessary to make the passageways 11 extending peripherally of the body of double width. At the upper end 0 of said body a passageway 21 is flared out as at p to permit the portions of said rope forming said eye to diverge while they are still located in said passageway to eliminate sharp corners and sudden bends in the rope. The extreme end m2 of said rope is brought downwardly and terminates in the lower end 0' of said body. Said extreme end can be secured in place by a stud or plug q screw-fitted in the body at that point.

In Fig. 9 I illustrate how an open eye can be provided in a coupling instead of a closed eye as shown in the embodiment in Figs. 2 to 4, inclusive, and said open eye is provided with alined apertures r thru which a pin, bolt, or shackle can be arranged. Otherwise, said modification is identical with the embodiment shown in the figures first described.

In Fig. 10 I illustrate a coupling which is double-ended. Said coupling comprises a body 8 looped about said body,

adapted to receive and be bound securely to the ends of two ropes t and u. Each of said ropes is formed into a loosely coiled knot in the manner shown in Fig. 1, but to opposite ends of said body. Said body is also provided with a lateral central aperture '0 in which the ends of said ropes are secured. Said aperture provides means for securing said coupling to a third object or section of rigging. Otherwise, the body 5' of said coupling is merely a double-ended example of the embodiment shown in Figs. 2 to 4 with the eye portions thereof removed or coinciding, and similar letters of reference are given to the other parts of the coupling and rope secured thereto.

I claim:

1. A coupling adapted to be bound to the end of a flexible element said coupling comprising an elongated body defining an enclosed longitudinally disposed axial passageway, a circumferential grooved course extending from and in general alinement with said passageway, encircling about said body and after encircling said body intersecting one end of said passageway at a level partly below, that is, inwardly of said passageway end, a second enclosed passageway in said body spaced laterally from the first one and extending from said course at a substantial angle therewith but in the general sweep of said course, whereby the end of said flexible element can be inserted into said second passageway, looped about said body, and passed thru the first passageway, being formed into a coiled section, with one portion of said element overlying an intermediate portion thereof as it extends from the first passageway into the circumferential course.

2. A coupling adapted to be bound to the end of a flexible element said coupling comprising an elongated body defining an enclosed longitudinally disposed axial passageway, a ciroumferential grooved course extending from and in general alinement with said passageway, encircling about said body and after encircling said body intersecting one end of said passageway at a level partly below, that is, inwardly of said passageway end, the passageway and course intersecting each other substantially at right angles one with the other, a second enclosed passageway in, said body spaced laterally from the first one and extending from said course at a substantial angle therewith but in the general sweep of said course, whereby the end of said flexible element can be inserted into said second passageway, and passed thru the first passageway, being formed into a coiled section, with one portion of said element overlying an intermediate portion thereof as it extends from the first passageway into the circumferential course.

3. A coupling adapted to be bound to the end of a flexible element said coupling comprising an elongated body defining an enclosed longitudinally disposed axial passageway, a circumferential grooved course extending from and in general alinement with said passageway, encircling about said body and after encircling said body intersecting one end of said passageway at a level partly below, that is, inwardly of said passageway end, a second enclosed passageway in said body spaced laterally from the first one and extending from said course at a substantial angle therewith but in the general sweep of said course, said second passageway partly underlying, but intersecting and opening into the grooved circumferential course at a point intermediate the ends of the latter, whereby the end of said flexible element can be inserted into said second passageway, looped about said body, and passed thru the first passageway, being formed into a coiled section, with one portion of said element overlying an intermediate portion thereof as it extends from the first passageway into the circumferential course, and another portion in the second passageway underlying the portion following said course where said course and second portion intersect and open one into the other.

4:. A coupling adapted to be bound to the end of a flexible element said coupling comprising an elongated body defining an enclosed longitudinally disposed axial passageway, a circumferential grooved course extending from and in general alinement with said passageway, encircling about said body and after encircling said body intersecting one end of said passageway at a level partly below, that is, inwardly of said passageway end, the passageway and course intersecting each other substantially at right angles one with the other, a second enclosed passageway in said body spaced laterally from the first one and extending from said course at a substantial angle therewith but in the general sweep of said course, said second passageway partly underlying, but intersecting and opening into the grooved circumferential course at a point intermediate the ends of the latter whereby the end of said flexible element can be inserted into said second passageway, looped about said body, and passed thru the first passageway, being formed into a coiled section, with one portion of said element overlying an intermediate portion thereof as it extends from the first passageway into the circumferential course and another portion in the second passageway underlying the portion following said course where said course and second portion intersect and open one into the other.

WILLIAM A. MEIGI-IAN. 

